Bogor Regent Denies There Are Hundreds of Victims in Antam Pongkor Gold Mine

BOGOR - Bogor Regent Rudy Susmanto clarified the news that there were hundreds of victims in the incident of smoke appearing in the gold mine area of PT Aneka Tambang (Antam) Pongkor, Bogor Regency, West Java.

Rudy said the local government together with the security apparatus and Antam management immediately went to the location to ensure the truth of the information that had caused panic among the community.

"We came directly to Nanggung District, held a meeting with Antam leaders, the Police Chief and the Dandim to get valid and real information. The information about hundreds of victims is not true," said Rudy together with the local Regional Leadership Coordination Forum (Forkopimda) together with Antam at the Nanggung Military Command, Wednesday, January 14, reported by ANTARA.

He explained that the 700 circulating in the community did not refer to the number of victims, but was an abbreviation of the level or work portal in the mine.

"What is meant is level 700, not that there are 700 people trapped. This is what we need to straighten out so that the public is not panicked," he said.

However, Rudy emphasized that the local government would still investigate the truth if there was other information outside of PT Antam's official activities.

"If there is some other information circulating, please allow us some time in the future to confirm the truth. We will convey it based on the data and facts on the ground," he said.

Rudy said the incident that occurred was the appearance of smoke on one of the mine levels around 00.30 WIB, when there was no official mining activity taking place.

The Bogor Regency Government, he said, immediately prepared an anticipatory step by deploying fire trucks, BPBD, ambulances, and related personnel as soon as they received initial information about the alleged victim.

"We are all ready because at first we also received information that there were victims. However, after being verified with Antam and the police, it was confirmed that none of Antam's employees were victims," he said.

General Manager of PT Antam UBPE Pongkor Nilus Rahmat confirmed that all company workers were in a safe condition after being evacuated from the smoke-affected area.

"No Antam employees were trapped or victims. We temporarily stopped activities in the affected area in accordance with safety procedures," said Nilus.

Bogor Police Chief AKBP Wikha Ardilestanto confirmed that there was no explosion in the Pongkor gold mining area as the news circulated.

"What happened was the emergence of smoke on one of the mine levels and it was handled by Antam. There was no explosion and no Antam workers were victims," he said.

He added that until now the source of the smoke was still being traced, because the team had not been able to enter the mine area before the gas levels were actually at a safe level.